Golf practice device



Jani 1-3, 1970 F. L. SMIVTH ,489,415

' GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE J Filed June' 2s. 1968 INVENTOR 1 -|s L. SMITH: BY m United States Patent 3,489,415 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Francis L. Smith, Edgecombe Drive, Milford, Ohio 45150 Filed June 28, 1968, Ser. No. 741,038 Int. Cl. A63]: 69/36 US. Cl. 273186 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A practice attachment for a golf putter having a ball engaging face of substantially trapezoidal shape in section and including a base face portion and side face portions intersecting the base face portion at obtuse angles, there being wing portions extending from the attachment for engagement with strips of pressure sensitive tape to removably secure the attachment to the putting face removably with the base face portion parallel to the putting face.

This invention relates to game devices. More particularly, this invention relates to an attachment for a golf putter or the like for use in practice therewith.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a conventional putter which provides a narrow area extending normally to the direction of swinging of the club for delivering a correct impact to a golf ball and other areas on opposite sides of the correct area which slope thereto so that if one of the other areas hits the golf ball, the ball is directed at a sharp angle to the correct direction.

Briefly, this invention provides a practice attachment for a golf putter which includes a body having a ball engaging portion of substantially trapezoidal shape and a backing portion attached to the body at the longer base thereof and having extensions extending in opposite directions therefrom. The extensions are used for mounting the practice attachment on the putting face of the putter. The shorter base of the trapezoid forms a correct hitting face which drives a golf ball on a true course. The sloping faces of the trapezoid impinge on or hit the golf ball if the putting swing is incorrect to drive the golf ball on a course sharply angled away from the correct course so that it will be immediately ap parent if the putter swing is incorrect.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the head portion of a golf putter having a practice attachment constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation of the head portion and practice attachment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the head portion and of the practice attachment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf ball being shown in association therewith in correct putting relation in full lines, in positions for improper engagement by the practice attachment in dot-dash lines, the position of the golf ball as it advances away from the attachment after being hit in correct putting relation being shown in dashed lines, the position of the ball as it advances away from the attachment after improper "ice engagement being shown in double-dot-dash lines; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the practice attachment removed from the putter.

In the following detailed description and the drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts,

In FIGS. 1-3 inclusive is shown the lower portion of a golf'putter 10 having a shank 12, only' a portion of which is shown, and a head 13. One face 14 of the putter normally is used to hit or putt a golf ball 16 therewith. For practice purposes, a practice attachrrient 17 is attached to the putter overlying the putting face. As shown in FIG. 4, the attachment .17 includes a body 18 and a backing member 19, which can be attached to the body by soldering, brazing or the like.

The backing member 19 can be a rectangular metal strip or plate having end portions or wings. 21 and 22 extending on opposite sides of the body 18. The body has an exposed ball engaging face of generally trapezoidal shape in section having a narrow base "or correct ball engaging base face portion 24 and sloping side face portions 25 and 26 on opposite sides of the correct face portion, the side face portions intersecting the base face portion at obtuse angles thereto. A line 26' (FIG. 3) can be provided on an upper face of the body perpendicular to the base face portion to indicate the correct point of impact.

The practice attachment 17 is attached to the putter with the backing member 19 in face-to-face engagement with the putting face 14 as shown in FIG. 3. The attachment can be held in place by strips 27 and 28 of pressure sensitive tape which overlay the wings-21 and 22 and are wrapped around end portions of the head 13 of the putter.

Operation of the practice attachment will be apparent from FIG. 3. If the putter is swung correctly and the correct face 24 engages the ball 16, the ball is advanced in a true direction as indicated at 16c in dashed lines. If, on the other hand, the club is swung in such a manner that the sloping face 25 engages the ball 16 (shown in dot-dash lines), the ball is directed at a sharp angle to the true direction as indicated at 16'x (shown in double-dot-dash lines). Similarly, if the club is swung in such a manner that the sloping face 26 engages the ball 16" (shown in dot-dash lines), the ball is directed at an oppositely disposed sharp angle to the true direction as indicated at 16"x (shown in doubledot-dash lines).

For ordinary play, the practice attachment 17 and the pressure sensitive strips 27 and 28 are removed from the putter, and the putter can be used in the usual fashion. For practice, the attachment is mounted on the putter and makes it possible immediately to see if the putter is swung in such a manner that it improperly hits the ball.

The practice attachment illustrated in the drawing and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a golf putter, a practice device positioned over the ball striking face of said putter, said device comprising a body having a ball engaging face of substantially trapezoidal shape in section and including a base face portion and side face portions in- 3 4 tersecting the base face portion at obtuse angles, and References Cited means removably attaching-the body to the ballstrikin'g face of the putter with said base portion parallel to the UNITED STATES PATENTS putter striking face, said means removably attaching 320,163 10/1919 M m the body to the striking face including a flat backing mem- 423,341 7/1922 Llppmcott 273' 173 I ber attached to the body parallel to said base face portion, 5 4371341 4/1969 Haste et and wing portions on said backing member extending in opposite directions from the body.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein strips of pressure sensitive material overlay the wing portions and 10 secure the device to the putter striking face.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner Us. (:1. X.R. 273 1s3, 171,194 

